Boycott of Turkey-Azerbaijan: Indian Travellers’ changing”Turkey-Azerbaijan Ko No Entry: Indian Travellers Ka Mood Badla, Southeast Asia Ban Gaya Naya Favourite”
mood, Vietnam and Thailand are becoming new favourites
New Delhi: After a major diplomatic development, the mood of Indian travellers is changing rapidly. Immediately after Pakistan received support from Turkey and Azerbaijan, Indian tourists have virtually boycotted both the countries. According to data from visa processing platform Atlys, within just 36 hours, visa applications of Turkey and Azerbaijan saw a decline of 42%, while mid-process application abandonment reached 60%.
In the first quarter (January-March 2025), Turkey and Azerbaijan were becoming popular destinations for Indian tourists. Cities like Istanbul, Baku and Cappadocia were preferred by young Indian travellers because of their affordability, short flights and rich culture. But the changed political stance after “Operation Sindoor” changed everything.
Metro cities most affected
Metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai have seen a 53% drop in Turkey-bound visa interest. Tier-2 cities like Indore and Jaipur have seen a slightly lower decline, around 20%. Group travel has seen the biggest impact — family and group visa requests have seen a 49% drop, while solo and couple applications have seen a 27% decline.
The most surprising trend was that people in the 25-34 age group pivoted first. This group accounted for 70% of total visa drop-offs. Female travelers showed even greater speed — they were 2.3 times more likely to choose Vietnam or Thailand over Turkey or Azerbaijan.
Southeast Asia’s Ubharta Craze
When Turkey and Azerbaijan were out, Southeast Asian countries took advantage. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia and Egypt saw a 31% spike in visa applications. This spike was especially among urban travelers who were looking for political neutrality and affordability. Easy digital documentation was also a decision-making factor.
In the words of Atlys CEO Mohak Nahta, “This reaction was not scattered, but a sharp behavioural shift. People did not need any official statement. They made their decisions based on instinct and information. Today’s traveler is emotionally aware, and takes quick action through technology. We also immediately halted our marketing campaigns for Turkey and Azerbaijan – taking a stand with the national sentiment.”
What do you call Summer Travel Trends?
As summer vacations approach, visa application trends show that demand for destinations like Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia is going to increase even more in June and July. Young and digitally-savvy tourists, especially from metros, are rapidly shifting towards Southeast Asia.
Tour operators and travel platforms are also now aligning their packages and promotions according to this new trend. Some tour companies have either removed Turkey-Azerbaijan packages or have started promoting their alternatives.
A journey of changing thinking
This whole incident shows that today’s Indian traveler does not take decisions only on the basis of budget and beauty. National sentiment, global politics and local behaviour – all these factors have now become a part of travel planning. The case of Turkey and Azerbaijan has made it clear that Indian tourists have now become a strong and conscious voice.
It will be interesting to see in the coming days whether this boycott continues for long or not. But for now, the beaches of Vietnam, the nightlife of Thailand and the islands of Indonesia have become the new favourites of Indian passports.